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Just In: Beard Award Eludes PB’s Chef Zach Bell

At a star-studded awards ceremony that just ended tonight at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, a James Beard Foundation Award—the nation’s most prestigious culinary honor—eluded Palm Beach’s Chef Zach Bell of Cafe Boulud.

In his third consecutive year as a finalist-nominee—a remarkable feat all its own—in the “Best Chef: South” category, Bell lost his bid to one of the other four “South” finalists, Chef Michael Schwartz of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink in Miami.

“Best Chef: South” is one of 19 restaurant and chef categories for the James Beard Foundation Awards, which are considered the Oscars of the culinary world.

Although Bell didn’t emerge victorious this year—industry observers say it’s only a matter of time before the praised and talented chef takes home a Beard Award—there was a silver lining.

Bell’s boss, internationally known chef/restaurateur and multiple Beard Award-winner Daniel Boulud, won the Outstanding Restaurant award for his Daniel restaurant in New York City.